1989-01-11 23:50 G.I.S
6
33 P.07
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 11, 1989
AGAIN.
STEVE VINES: CAN I JUST ASK YOU THE SPECIFIC QUESTION THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT RAISE ITEMS OF CONCERN TO HER MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT?
DID
LORD GLENARTHUR: WE HAVE A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT FORMS OF DIALOGUE WITH THE CHINESE AUTHORITIES. THE SECRETARY OF STATE NATURALLY SPEAKS TO HIS OPPOSITE NUMBER. THE GOVERNOR HERE HAS MET SENIOR CHINESE OFFICIALS IN PEKING.
HAVE RAISED THE MATTER PERSONALLY WITH MY CHINESE OPPOSITE NUMBER, AND I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT A NUMBER OF POINTS ARE PUT ACROSS.
I
AGNES LAM
I HAVE GOT TWO QUESTIONS RELATING TO THE CONFIDENCE OF HONG KONG PEOPLE. THE FIRST ONE IS, LORD GLENARTHUR, YOU SAID IN THE HOUSE OF LORDS ON JANUARY 20, 1986 THAT THE WHOLE AIM OF THE SINO-BRITISH JOINT DECLARATION WAS TO PROVIDE A SECURE FUTURE FOR ALL THE RESIDENTS IN HONG KONG, ONE IN WHICH THEY CAN FEEL CONFIDENT AND CAN CONTINUE TO LIVE AND PROSPER, AND THE AGREEMENT GUARANTEES THAT.
IT IS QUITE CLEAR NOW THAT HONG KONG PEOPLE DON'T SEE THAT AND THEY WANT TO HAVE AN ALTERNATIVE RIGHT OF ABODE. THIS WAS SHOWN BY THE FACT THAT ABOUT 45,000 PEOPLE EMIGRATED LAST YEAR. SO MY QUESTION IS: DOES BRITAIN FEEL SUFFICIENTLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE TERRITORY'S BRAIN DRAIN PROBLEM AND TO RECONSIDER ITS POLICY ON THE RIGHT OF ABODE FOR HONG KONG PEOPLE, AND FOLLOWS THE EXAMPLE OF PORTUGAL WHICH WILL EXTEND CITIZENSHIP TO THE PEOPLE OF MACAU?
LORD GLENARTHUR:
THANK YOU. THE QUESTION OF CONFIDENCE IN HONG KONG IS OF COURSE EXTREMELY IMPORTANT AND I STAND BY PRECISELY WHAT I SAID IN 1986. INDEED I THINK THAT THE FACT THAT THERE HAVE BEEN SO MANY ENCOURAGING ASPECTS OF THE WAY THAT THE CHINESE AUTHORITIES HAVE APPROACHED THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES WITH THEIR HALF OF THE SINO-BRITISH JOINT DECLARATION IS A VERY POSITIVE SIGN INDEED. NOW I KNOW THAT THE QUESTION OF THE UNITED KINGDOM IMMIGRATION RULES AND THE BRITISH NATIONALITY ACT IS ONE THAT HAS CAUSED A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF CONCERN. T DON'T THINK IT 18 WORTH GOING OVER THE OLD GROUND ALL OVER AGAIN, NOR DO I THINK THAT IT IS REALLY CORRECT TO COMPARE, AS YOUR QUESTION IMPLIES, WHAT THE UNITED KINGDOM DOES ON THAT ASPECT WITH THE PORTUGUESE PASSPORT ISSUE. BRITAIN AND PORTUGAL HAVE HAD A VERY DIFFERENT HISTORY. THEY HAVE HAD A VERY DIFFERENT CONSTITUTIONAL EVOLUTION AND ONE RESULT IS THAT BRITISH AND PORTUGUESE NATIONALITY LAWS HAVE ALWAYS BEEN VERY DIFFERENT. OF COURSE I KNOW HOW STRONGLY HONG KONG PEOPLE FEEL ABOUT THE WHOLE NATIONALITY QUESTION BUT AS I HAVE SAID IT HAS BEEN MUCH DEBATED AND I REALLY DON'T THINK THERE IS ANY POINT IN GOING OVER THE OLD GROUND AGAIN,
AGNES LAM: MY SECOND QUESTION IS THAT TALKING ABOUT THE BRITISH NATIONALITY ACT, SECTION 4(5) ENABLES THE GOVERNMENT TO GRANT AUTOMATIC CITIZENSHIP TO HONG KONG RESIDENTS WHO HAVE FAITHFULLY SERVED THE CROWN AND THIS IS RESTRICTED TO THE ADMINISTRATIVE AND DISCIPLINARY SERVICES, AND ACCORDING TO A RECENT REPORT IN OUR PAPER PUBLISHED LAST WEEK IT SHOWS THAT ONLY
64 OF THE APPLICANTS. WERE GRANTED THEIR CITIZENSHIP AND ALL BUT 8 WERE EX-SERVICES, AND WHAT I AM ASKING IS COULD BRITAIN BE MORE GENEROUS AS 1997 IS COMING AND EXTEND THIS PRIVILEGE TO OTHER CIVIL SERVANTS OR EVEN THE HONG KONG PUBLIC AS A WHOLE?
/LORD GLENARTHER :